Save file

Basics

Save file contents

Rimworld's save files are written in XML (Version 1.0) and contain all the information about the state of the game. They are stored with the file extension .rws, and can be read with any XML reader or Notepad.

World data is saved into the map file, to allow multiple saves on the same world without confusion.

Notable sections

Resources - Contains information about each of the available resources in the game.
ProjectList - Contains the state of each of the research projects available in the game. The research completes when Progress is more than (or equal) to TotalCost.
ThingReservation - Details what a Pawn (person/animal) is doing/going to do.
Thing - information about a person/animal

Save file locations

Windows version

The Save files are stored in users AppData folders: C:\Users\%username%\AppData\LocalLow\Ludeon Studios\RimWorld by Ludeon Studios\Saves

Shortcut:

windows button + R -> the Run dialog will appear
type appdata and press enter.
go to LocalLow --> Ludeon Studios

Note, as of at least Alpha 16, the directory Steam Cloud will create is C:\Users\%username%\AppData\LocalLow\Ludeon Studios\RimWorld which is not detected by the game. Unknown if this a bug at this point.

Linux version

The Save files are stored in: ~/.config/unity3d/Ludeon Studios/RimWorld by Ludeon Studios/Saves/

At least as of Alpha 17b, Steam Cloud synchronization is working as intended on Linux, meaning that save files are automatically updated across different Steam installations on multiple devices.

Mac OS X version

Your Rimworld settings folder is ~/Library/Application\ Support/RimWorld

To see your save games with Finder, open a new shell and enter:

open ~/Library/Application\ Support/RimWorld/Saves/ (may also be in cache)

This also applies to Alpha 12d.

As of at least Alpha 16, Steam Cloud uses the directory ~/Library/Application\ Support/RimWorld By Ludeon Studios/Saves, wheras the game uses open ~/Library/Application\ Support/RimWorld/Saves/, therefore meaning the save game sync is currently not working.

Save file for Mac using EasyFind
Save file for Mac using EasyFind reveal in Finder

Editing saves

Howto: Editing RimWorld Saves - A Beginner's Guide

Example of removing the Toxic Fallout event from the game: open the save file with Wordpad, press Ctrl+F and search for 'toxicfallout'. You will see a list of <li>events</li>. See where in the list 'ToxicFallout' is (for me at the bottom). Below that list is a list of <li>numbers</li>. Change the number to '0' between <li></li> which is in the same position in the list as 'ToxicFallout' was in the previous list (bottom one for me). It will now never occur again.

Actually I'm not sure if this works, since it says 'lastqueueticks', maybe those values are how long it's been since you last encountered such events. Needs testing Weslington (talk) 23:06, 9 August 2016 (UTC).

Also if currently you would be experiencing this Toxic Fallout and would want to remove it not only for the future, but also immediately, do the following: Ctrl+F in the save file and search for 'activeconditions'. You will find: <activeConditions> <li> 'some text regarding the Toxic Fallout' </li> </activeConditions>. Change this to only 1 line with just this: <activeConditions />. So you would have this.